Mulberry Paper Bag μ-Solid Phase Extraction for the Analysis of Five Spice Flavors by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Headspace micro solid phase extraction using mulberry paper bag (HS-MPB-µ-SPE) has been developed and validated for the analysis of volatile flavor compounds from five spice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). HS-MPB-µ-SPE was performed with adsorbent particles enclosed inside a mulberry paper bag. Four different kinds of adsorbents such as Tenax TA, Porapack Q, dimethylpolysiloxane and polyethylene glycol were tested. The extraction solvents compared were petroleum ether, methylene chloride, and chloroform. Better results were obtained when Tenax TA and petroleum ether were used. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) were in the range of 1.3 ng/mL and 4.3 ng/mL, respectively, for o-cymene as a model compound of monoterpene. Proposed method showed good reproducibility (3.3%, RSD) and good recoveries (94.0%). The HS-MPB-µ-SPE is very simple to use, inexpensive, rapid, requires small sample amounts and solvent consumption. Because the solvent for extraction is reduced to only a very small volume (0.6 mL), there is minimal waste or exposure to toxic organic solvent and no further concentration step. This method allows successful characterization of the headspace in contact with the five spice sample. Strong trans-anethole from star anise or fennel is a characteristic flavor of five spice powders. HS-MPB-µ-SPE combined with GC/MS can be a promising technique for the broad spectrum measurement of volatile aroma compounds from solid spices.